Jaw faces for woodworking clamps



.Jan. 21, 1958 M. E. WETZLER 2, JAW FACES FOR WOODWORKING CLAMPS Filed Sept. 14, 1954 INVENTOR MIX. If". Warn :1?

United States Patent-O JAW FACES FOR WOODWORKING CLAMPS Max E. Wetzler, Flushing, N. Y.; Hedwig Wetzler, executrix of said Max E. Wetzler, deceased Application September 14, 1954, Serial No. 455,964

4 Claims. (Cl. 144300) This invention relates to clamping devices and more specifically to an improved clamp particularly useful for gluing together two or more parts of wood and other similar materials.

Many clamps and particularly those for use in wood working are fabricated of wood or other similar materials in order to prevent deformation or injury to the pieces being clamped or glued. Such clamps however have not been entirely satisfactory, as it is difiicult to prevent glue from getting on the jaws or between the jaw and the work with the result that both the work and the face of the jaw are damaged. To overcome these disadvantages of wood, an eflort has been made to utilize one of the softer metals that will resist the adhesive qualities of wood glues. While in this respect metal clamps are desirable, it has been found that metals having sufilcient rigidity for use in clamps are quite hard and will readily mar wood when firmly clamped thereon.

This invention overcomes the foregoing problems encountered with both wood and metal clamps and contemplates as one of its objects the provision of a highly improved clamp that may utilize the advantages of both wood and metal and at the same time will not stick or otherwise adhere to the pieces being glued or damage the Work when firmly clamped between the operating jaws. This is accomplished through the use of removable cover members on the jaws having a softness comparable to wood and that are impervious to glue and other cements. Moreover, the utilization of cover members prevents damage to the jaw faces underlying the cover and thus lengthens the life of the clamp itself.

Another object of the invention resides in an improved clamp of wood or other suitable material wherein the jaws are provided with removable cover members that are substantially impervious to glueand other cements and at the same time have a softness roughly equivalent to that of wood. In this way wood pieces being clamped will not be subjected to the deformation normally encountered with metal clamps and the pieces cannot become cemented to the work in a manner that will produce further damage upon their removal.

Still another object of the invention is a new and improved clamp of composite structure that is characterized by its simplicity, low cost and durability and wherein the jaws are provided with replaceable surfaces impervious to glue and cement and have a softness comparable to wood.

A further object of the invention is an improved clamp for cementing pieces of wood and other materials one to the other that will effect a firmer, more secure joinder without damaging the surfaces of the work.

The above and other objects and advantages of the in- I vention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a clamp in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Patented Jan. 21, 1958 Fig. 2 is a side elevational view in partial section of one jaw of the clamp shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 2 taken along the line 33 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a modified embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view along the lines 55 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective and cross sectional views respectively of still another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a further modification of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of a fragmentary part of the embodiment of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of still another embodiment of the invention.

Reference is now made to the drawings and specifically to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, show ing one form of a woodworking or furniture clamp in accordance with the invention. It comprises a pair of clamping members it) and 11 adjustably coupled one to the other by a pair of threaded rods or screws 12 and 13 having oppositely disposed handles 1?. and i3, respectively. The clamping members 1417 and iii are preferably made of wood or other similar material and have transverse pins 14 of metal which threadably engage the screws 12 and 13. In addition each of the screws have oppositely threaded portions extending outwardly from the center for movement of the clamping members inwardly and outwardly one of the other.

The lower ends 1d and 11 of the clamping members 1d and 11 as shown in the drawing are tapered to form a relatively narrow end section and constitute the jaws of the clamp. It has been found that while wood possesses certain desirable characteristics such as toughness and softness which makes it particularly useful for use in wood working, the jaws can absorb glue and become firmly adhered to the articles being clamped. in commercial as well as other applications this not only results in considerable loss of time and possible injury to the work, but also damages the surfaces of the jaws with the result that they become rough and uneven.

To avoid these difficulties, the jaws Ml and 11 are provided with removable cover members 15 of a metal or plastic having a softness roughly equivalent to that of wood. Such metals as zinc, aluminum and the like of relatively thin section have been found to be very satisfactory. Plastics of the order of polytetraiiuoroethylene (Teflon) that will resist the adhesive qualities of the wood glues also give excellent results.

Each cover member 15 is provided with a bottom part 16 adapted to overlay the inner face of its associated jaw, a pair of side walls 17 and an end wall 1%. The upper edges of the side walls 17 are bent inwardly to form a flange 19 and the edge of the flange is then bent upwardly and outwardly to form a lip 2t Each jaw iii and 11' is arranged with a pair of side grooves 21 slightly deeper than the flange l9 and having a thickness less than the combined thickness of the flange 2 .9 and height of the lip 2b. in this way a cover 15 can be forcibly inserted on each jaw with the edge fit) of each lip 20 slightly embedded in one side of the groove 21 to hold the cover in place. Both metals and plastics such as those referred to above may be formed and attached to the clamping members in the manner described and will remain securely in position notwithstanding the extensive use of the clamp.

In certain cases it may be desirable to provide heated jaws for a clamp in order to warm the objects being glued and insure a firmer bond. In such a case a suitable insulated heating element 22 may be bonded to the inside of the bottom 16 of the cover 15 as shown in Fig. 5. The ends of the heating element are then preferslightly ably attached to connectors 23 supported by one of the side walls .17 and adapted to receive a cooperating connector member 24 for supplying electrical energy thereto.

Figs. 6 and 7 show another modification of the invention. In this embodiment the lip 28 is omitted from the flanges l9 and a plurality of small lugs 25 having sharpened edges are substituted therefor. The edges of the lugs automatically engage the one wall of the slot and prevent displacement of the cover during normal clamping operations. if desired the lugs 25 may be disposed at about 45 of the walls 17 so that movement of the side walls outwardly of the jaw is also prevented.

Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and is particularly useful for clamps wherein the covers 155 must be replaced frequently. in this errbodiment the cover denoted here by the numeral 26 is provided with a bottom part 16 and a pair of straight side walls. The jaw includes at least one recess 28 on each side thereof for receiving a spring 29 and ball 39 with the ball exten lng slightly from the surface ofthe jaw. The side walls are each provided with an indent 31 ufor cooperation with the associated ball 30 to hold the cover place.

Under cer the jaw cove s llfi r conditions it may be desirable to make eadily removable for one purpose or another, as for ins n ce, preheating immediately before the clamping opera ion. For this purpose a cover 15 such. as she a 'n Fig. 10 may be employed. This embodiment of ti 2 invention is similar to the covers shown in l to 3, inclusive, except that the end Wall 18 and the reversely termed lips Ed on the inner edge of each flange 1 are eliminated. Under these conditions, of course, it is d ."able to form the slots 21 in the jaws with a thiclrn. just slightly greater than the thickness of the material of which the cover 155' is formed. With the omission of the end wall it is of course desirable to icoordina c the len th of the slots 21 with the length of the side walls so that the cover when placed over the 1'. 1 jaw will be automatically aligned with the front end thereof.

The provision of removable cover members for clamps and particularly woodworking clamps, enables the clamps to be fabricated of wood, metal or other suitable material and at the same time adherence to the work being glued or damaged by reason of imperfect jaw faces or excessive hardness is effectively prevented. Since the jaw faces may become damaged in normal use, this invention avoids the high, cost of either replacing the entire clamp or refinishing the faces th rnselves. Moreover, jaw covers can be provided with dinerent hardnesses and qualities for use with different types of wood and other materials being clamped.

While several embodiments of the invention have been 4 shown and described, it is apparent that the several features may be combined in any desired manner and that changes, modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp comprising a pair of generally rectangular relatively movable jaws, narrow slots in at least two opposite walls of each jaw, a cover member overlying each jaw and having a bottom and a pair of side walls, inwardly extending flanges on said side walls for engaging said slots and means for securing said flanges in engagement with said slots, the last said means comprising a reversely formed lip along the inner edge of each flange.

2. A clamp comprising a pair of generally rectangular relatively movable jaws, narrow slots in at least two opposite walls of each jaw, a cover member of relatively thin ductile material overlying each jaw. and having a bottom and a pair of side Walls, inwardly extending flanges on each side wall for snugly engaging saidslots, a heating element on said cover member and disposed between said side walls and terminal means carried by the cover memberv for cooperation with a detachable electric connector for applying energy to said. heating element.

3. A clampcomprising a pair of generally rectangular relatively movable jaws, a narrow slot in at least two opposite walls of each jaw, a cover member of relatively thin ductile material overlying each jaw and having a bottom and a pair of side walls, inwardly extending flanges on said side walls for engaging said slots and means for securing said flanges in engagement with said slots.

4. A clamp according to claim 3 wherein the last said means comprises a plurality of lugs extending outwardly from each flange and engaging a wall of the cooperating slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 307,453 Galbraith Nov. 4, 1884 687,836 Jorgensen Dec. 3, 1901' 758,838 Hermann May 3, 1904 911,924 Vader Feb. 9, 1908 1,086,574 Anderson Feb. 10, 1914 1,259,218 Eriksen Mar. 12, 1918 1,781,997 Berezowski Nov. 18, 1930 1,866,426 Siegrist July 5, 1932 2,045,487 Oslind June 23, 1936 2,189,277 Anderson Feb. 6, 1940 2,519,107 Brown Aug. 15, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 57,347 Switzerland Aug. 20, 1912 285,878 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1953 

